James Cameron's Avatar: The Game

Abysmal game tie-ins inevitably follow the release of any blockbuster action film. At best they're mediocre affairs, rushed out the door to tap into the movie's marketing budget, like this year's Terminator Salvation, Transformers, and Watchmen. So, you're probably not expecting much from James Cameron's Avatar: The Game. And you'd be making the right assumption -- the game looks pretty in spots, but the pacing and nonsensical plot hamper any sense of forward momentum. The game's foundation sounds surprisingly solid; you get a third-person shooter with varied weapons and skills, all set in an open-world. At least it seems like an open world. You only have one objective to complete at a time, and the only thing you can do in-between missions is shoot at roving gangs of enemies. That leaves you with wide swaths of repetitious jungle to trudge through as you make your way from point to point. And you'll walk a lot. The game has warp points and vehicles to help you get around, but they're few and far between. So, while it might look wide and inviting, Avatar is a very linear experience.

James Cameron's James Cameron's Lost Planet. By James Cameron.

We got a chance to play the first few levels of this epic sci-fi adventure and saw what it's like to be a state-of-the-art soldier and a Na'vi warrior.

It's mech suits versus spiked clubs in Avatar online multiplayer.

This disappointing film tie-in transforms the magical into the mundane.